The equitable Performing arts classroom
How to use the databases: Many of the playwrights and/or choreographers listed here have works other than the one or two we have linked! Please use this information as a “jumping off point”, not as a definitive guide. See the “Notes” column for more resources. Also, many of the links go to Amazon, but we suggest using the information provided to find these books at a bookseller local to you.
This page was created in February 2020 and is updated regularly. Suggestions for inclusion may be sent to info@momentumstage.org .
Join our next Creating Change Conversation or Expansion Pack workshop for artists and educators for deep dives on some of these topics See our Event page for upcoming learning opportunities. .
equity in Theatre
#DisruptTexts- a weekly Twitter Chat and a website examining specifically English and Drama texts
Anti-Racist and Anti-Oppressive Futures for Theatre for Young Audiences, an interactive guide. From USA/TYA.
Anti-Racist Theatre Teaching Resources from Ball State University
A database of BIPOC Designers and Engineers.
A database of BIPOC Directors
Decolonizing New Play Development- a recorded panel discussion from the Playwright’s Foundation
Dismantling Anti-Black Linguistic Racism in Shakespeare. A field guide by a non-Black theatre educator for non-Black theatre educators.
“Expand the Classics” list- classics by women compiled by Hedgepig Ensemble
How can Non-Diverse Theatres become More Diverse? an OnStage 2-part blog.
How to Create an Actively Inclusive Theatre Course from HowlRound.
HowlRound’s Series on Decolonizing Theatre and another on Anti-Racist Theatre, and their series of panel discussions on Crip and Indigenous Dramaturgies. They have so many good articles on this site! Check their categories page for hours of reading!
Indigenous Artist Network database
American Theatre’s Library of EDI Articles.
Open Letter to Theatre Companies: Putting Solidarity into Practice (this article is also applicable for school programs and/or dance companies!).
Phrases we Should Work to Eliminate in the Rehearsal Room (can be used for dance as well)
Unsettling Dramaturgy - grew out of the HowlRound panel above.
Who Designs and Directs in Theatres 2020 data
Equity in Dance
An Anti-Racist/DEI Checklist for Dance Teachers- created by Shawn Lent as a way to evaluate the programs you run and/or teach.
Creating New Futures: Working Guidelines for Ethics & Equity in Presenting Dance & Performance - a “living document” that frames principles and guidelines for the dance & performance field to shape our futures in light of the extraordinary chaos and disruption caused by COVID-19. While this document was created in response to a specific situation, it carries implications for dance far beyond the now.
Dance Artists’ National Collective- creating documents and practices for equitable dance spaces.
The Dance Data Project- data-driven research and advocacy for equality for women in all roles of the ballet world. They also have an incredible resource page, everything from finances, to safety, to booklists.
Dance Education Equity Association- an organization that assesses equity and safety in dance institutions, conventions, and/or competitions.
Dance Magazine
Final Bow for Yellow Face- site, book, videos.
The Nutcracker Resource Guide from Momentum Stage. A list of articles, podcasts, etc. re: racist stereotypes in the winter classic.
One Dance UK has a ton of resources for UK based folks, including a page dedicated to dances of the African Diaspora.
Toe-Point Supremacy from Flow Movement. This open letter to the pole dance community also links to some great resources about the colonization that exists in dance. She also includes a huge resource list at the bottom.
What does Systemic Racism Look Like in Dance? - sections for educators, organizations, and additional resources.
resources for artists and educators on Gender and sexuality
Asexuality handout from Shira Gitlin. To thank Shira for this labor, please Venmo: @shira-gitlin
Database of Gender Consultants for Theatre curated by Shira Gitlin. To thank Shira for this labor, please Venmo: @shira-gitlin
Directory of Queer and Nonbinary Intimacy Professionals curated by Shira Gitlin. To thank Shira for this labor, please Venmo: @shira-gitlin
Gender Inclusion Resources from StageSource
Howlround Article Library on LGBTQIA+ topics
Queer Musicals- Database, blog, resource links
Queer Theatrical Works Database created by Bryan Stanton
Trans Theatre Makers Database curated by Shira Gitlin. To thank Shira for this labor, please Venmo: @shira-gitlin
What it’t Like Being Non-Binary on Broadway article from TDF
Why Trans Representation in Theatre Lags Behind Film and TV article from Them
Xploring Gender- infographics, resources, and training on gender in the arts and the world.
resources for artists and educators on Disability and Neurodiversity
Access Docs for Artists- a toolkit for creating documents.
AXIS Dance’s Bibliography of Disability Resources
Expanding Opportunities in Theaters and the Performing Arts Accessibility Toolkit from Arts4All Florida.
Howlround Article Library on Disability topics
Howlround series of panel discussions on Crip and Indigenous Dramaturgies.
RespectAbility Resources. Includes a section for Entertainment Professionals and a section for Teachers.
Sins Invalid- a disability justice performance company. Be sure to see the 10 Principles of Disability Justice page (originally written in 2015) with a downloadable PDF.
Unsettling Dramaturgy - grew out of the HowlRound panel above.
Thoughts on color-conscious casting & Representation
The newest piece in this series about switching to “Identity-Conscious Casting”, from Howlround.
From Education Week
From The Guardian
From the LA Times
In-depth academic paper from the Journal of Sports and Entertainment Law at Harvard.
Tokenism v. Representation by Theresa Ruth Howard for Dance Magazine.
Why Diversity on Screen is Important- while about film, applies to all artistic representation
Can I decolonize my classroom or creative practice?
RESOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION ON DE/unCOLONIZING YOUR CLASSROOM or creative practice.
DEcolonizing is a word for a return to Indigenous practices and land. So, settlers cannot DEcolonize and remain on stolen land. What settlers CAN do is practice UNcolonized methods of teaching, creating, rehearsing, etc.
“Decolonizing” does not simply mean adding in a text by a person of color. Uncolonizing your classroom is a systematic approach to not only WHAT and WHO you teach, but also HOW you teach AND assess. It means acknowledging the systems of oppression and dominance that exist in our societies, organizations, and classrooms, and working to dismantle them in order to make our world more just and equitable.
To see even more resources on equitable teaching, scroll the dance and theatre-specific resources. Join our next Creating Change Conversation or Expansion Pack workshop for artists and educators! See our Event page for details.
11 Points to Consider when Decolonizing your Curriculum- Keele Manifesto for Decolonizing the Curriculum
Decolonization: A Guidebook for Settlers on Stolen Land- explains why settlers cannot DEcolonize.
Decolonization is for Everyone- Nikki Sanchez TEDx Talk
Decolonization is Not a Metaphor- Eve Tuck and K. Wayne Yang. Highly recommend!
Decolonizing Gender Tips from Alliance for Girls
Decolonizing Practices: a website dedicated to “Transforming Colonial Narratives and Impacts, led by Indigenous Ways of Being”. Their course and book are here.
Decolonizing the Classroom: Step 1 from the National Council of English Teachers. Their Anti-Racism Committee has PDFs and Bookmarks of teaching practices for easy reference.
Decolonizing the Syllabus Process and Resources from Bryn Mawr College’s Syllabus Workshop
Decolonizing Teaching: a white paper about teaching race at the University level
“Do Not Decolonize”- an article that offers words that may better describe what you are doing as well as steps to work towards “decolonizing”
EVEN MORE RESOURCES….
other ARts orgs doing Equity work
ArtEquity- training and resources for equity in the arts, including work for individual artists and boards.
Decolonizing the Music Room- while created for music educators, has a lot of great resources for educators in other fields.
Folk Songs with Racist Origin/Lyrics- a database for those of you teaching Creative Movement or Folk Tale units that may use folk songs
Groundwater Arts- trainings in decolonizing the arts. Highly recommend!
League of Chicago Theatres provides a resource packet to their community, but these are applicable everywhere.
Production on Deck has curated databases of under-represented people in the arts and regularly posts production job openings.
The WholeHearted Actor has created a packet of Mental Health resources, especially for performers in Florida!
FOR EDUCATORS
Join our next Creating Change Conversation or Expansion Pack workshop for artists and educators! See our Event page for details.
#HonorNativeLand- from US Dept. of Arts and Culture. Tools for talking about and creating Land Acknowledgements.
Beyond Heroes and Holidays- by James Banks for Teaching for Change
Dismantling Racism- has a section of resources specifically for parents and teachers.
EduColor- an organization working to dismantle systemic racism in education has compiled a list of resources.
Multicultural Classroom Consulting- PD, consulting, and a book
“A Talk to Teachers” from James Baldwin
Talking About Race- Educator’s Tools from the National Museum of African-American History
The Teacher’s Guide to Native Land
Teaching Community: A Pedagogy of Hope by bell hooks: “practical wisdom about what we do and can continue to do to make the classroom a place that is life-sustaining and mind-expanding, a place of liberating mutuality where teacher and student together work in partnership”
Tips for Trauma-Informed Teaching from Resilient Educator
FOR ALL
Anti-Racism Resources for White People- a Google Doc compiled by Sarah Sophie Flicker, Alyssa Klein in May 2020.
Anti-Racism Starter Kit- by L. Glenise Pike
Aorta (Anti-Oppression Resource and Training Alliance)- free resources and paid trainings available. Momentum Stage incorporates Aorta resources into all Power and Consent trainings.
Black Illustrations- free graphics for your next presentation, website, etc.
Blackful Consulting- Anti-racism advising, blog, and products.
EqualityTraining UK- great resources for language on disability and accessibility.
A collection of Implicit Bias Tools
International Safeguards for Children in Sports- recommended guidelines for protecting children from sexual harm.
Intersectionality Matters Podcast- hosted by Kimberlé Crenshaw, who coined the term “intersectionality”.
Mental Health Issues Facing the Black Community guide from Sunshine Behavioral Health
National Sexual Violence Center’s Resource Bank and Courses
Printable Resource Guides and Posters for Sexual Assault from Army of Survivors
The Racial Equity Institute has regular trainings, as well as online resources.
What is Transformative Justice by Mia Mingus
Rachel Cargyle’s UnLearning series on Patreon.
White Supremacy Culture List of Traits from Dismantling Racism.